Current Season

Featured Profile

The 2018-19 Season marks Jo Anne Wasserman’s 26th year as Artistic Director and Conductor of SBCS. While you can read her full bio here, we’d thought we’d share a few things about her that you might not be aware of. She’s a California native, born, raised, and educated in the greater Los Angeles area, where Read More »

Reviews

The boffo bash, co-chaired by Marylove Thralls and Mary Dan Eades, revisited the post-war era with the Broadway musical and the Big Band sound. Jo Anne Wasserman, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary directing the choir, with David Potter on piano and Bob Lally narrating, conduct- ed the concert featuring classic songs from Rodgers Read More »

Notes Worthy April 12, 2018 It was an event of high note when the Santa Barbara Choral Society celebrated its 70th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of its director, Jo Anne Wasserman, with two well-attended concerts at the First Presbyterian Church, which included alumnae from past decades. Highlight of the performances was German composer Franz Read More »

Reviews

The boffo bash, co-chaired by Marylove Thralls and Mary Dan Eades, revisited the post-war era with the Broadway musical and the Big Band sound. Jo Anne Wasserman, who is celebrating her 25th anniversary directing the choir, with David Potter on piano and Bob Lally narrating, conduct- ed the concert featuring classic songs from Rodgers Read More »

Notes Worthy April 12, 2018 It was an event of high note when the Santa Barbara Choral Society celebrated its 70th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of its director, Jo Anne Wasserman, with two well-attended concerts at the First Presbyterian Church, which included alumnae from past decades. Highlight of the performances was German composer Franz Read More »

Rockwood Abbey – Gala 2017 Royal Revival Review by Richard Mineards, Montecito Journal May 2017 Downton Abbey, the delightful series about an English aristocratic family and their servants, may have ended on PBS’s Masterpiece Theater more than a year ago, but it was delight- fully resurrected at the Rockwood Woman’s Club by the Santa Barbara Read More »

Homage to those passed, and those left By JOSEF WOODARD, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT April 9, 2017 12:26 AM Last weekend at the First Presbyterian Church, the mighty Santa Barbara Choral Society, abetted by a full orchestra, pulled off an impressive feat, one with roots in classic choral repertoire but with its own special niche. Brahms’ “Ein Read More »

CONCERT REVIEW by Richard Mineards/Montecito Miscellany Veteran music director JoAnne Wasserman was clearly in her element when the Santa Barbara Choral Society staged its fourth annual Hallelujah Project at the Lobero in memory of former board president Dr. Dan Secord, who delivered more than 6,000 new residents in a 35-year medical career. The concert, which Read More »

CONCERT REVIEW: Taking holiday music seriously, and lightly The Santa Barbara Choral Society continued its grand, effective concept of mixing serious Christmas music with lighter fare, with ‘The Hallelujah! Project 4’ By JOSEF WOODARD, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT December 18, 2016 8:02 AM The Santa Barbara Choral Society, led be JoAnne Wasserman and joined by members of Read More »

Rome at Home May 2016 Santa Barbara Choral Society hit a high note at the Rockwood Woman’s Club with its annual fundraiser, When in Rome. The Italian themed sold-out bash for a record 190 guests, which raised around $50,000 for the popular vocal group, was most appropriate as the choir launches its two-week performance tour Read More »

Montecito Miscellany by Richard Mineards A Christmas Choral Longtime music director JoAnne Wasserman was clearly in her element when the Santa Barbara Choral Society staged its third annual Hallelujah Project at the Lobero. The concert, which of course included Handel’s uplifting Hallelujah Chorus, was a glorious Yuletide miscellany of seasonal cheer featuring the Goleta Valley Read More »

Ballet, Choir, and Symphony Present a Masterpiece Wednesday, October 21, 2015 by GUSTAVO URIBE In the land described in the book The Hyborian Age by author Robert E. Howard, a Cimmerian boy, born on the battlefield to a blacksmith, arose to conquer, swearing to a deity called Crom. Conan, as he was named, eventually claimed Read More »

Dan Kepl reviews the October 17/18, 2015 performance of Carmina Burana for Casa Magazine. A CAVALCADE OF COOPERATION ignited a musical and visual event marking the opening of the Santa Barbara Symphony‘s [and Santa Barbara Choral Society’s] concert season. Last Saturday’s full house at the Granada Theatre gave currency, literally, to the value of collaborative Read More »